Why We Grieve When a Pet Dog Dies

BY Kirstin Fawcett

April 9, 2017

iStock

For many pet owners, a dog isn't just a furry friend—it’s family. According to Vox, this emotional bond can be explained with science. Tens of thousands of years ago, humans and wolf dogs became hunting companions, laying the foundation for the relationship that humans later shared with domesticated dogs. As we evolved, so did our emotional connection with animals, resulting in the close kinship we share with canines today. Learn more about this evolutionary process—and why it’s so hard to say goodbye to a beloved pup—by watching Vox’s video below.

When a blaze roars to life in a residential area, firefighters can use trucks to transport the tools needed to battle it. But in the California wilderness, where vehicles—and sometimes thanks to environmental restrictions, helicopters—can’t venture, mules bear the burden. According to Business Insider, the donkey-horse hybrids can carry 120 pounds of supplies apiece while walking 4 mph up rugged terrain. Llamas are also capable of making the trek, but mules are preferred for their resilience and intelligence.

You can see them at work in the video below.

These animals do extraordinary work for the country, but they’re not the only mules assisting the U.S. government. The Havasupai village of Supai is located at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, and the mail is delivered there each day by parcel-toting mules.